On some days, it seemed to Enola as though she’d been in Vallo for ages. She’d traded the clothes of her past for more modern versions, enjoying the ease of trousers--without having to pretend to be a boy--and the shoes were infinitely more comfortable as well at times. And while she still had some hiccups with the technology, she thought she was getting the hang of it. Even if she wasn’t quite ready to get her driver’s license just yet. Though her lessons with Richie were going well and she felt more comfortable behind the wheel of his car every time they went out in it.
Other days, it seemed like she was brand new, with some insanity throwing her right back into confusion and needing to try and determine what was going on.
But there was one thing that generally helped calm her jitters--food. No matter the craziness of the situation or the apparent weirdness of how the food might be presented, everything had tasted delicious so far. At least in her opinion. She was hopeful that Eloise would enjoy the different ones she thought they could try out.
She waited at the bottom of Morningside, hands clasped behind her back as she watched the people coming in and out of the building, noting what she could about them as they moved.
Eloise was eager to explore more of Vallo City and, perhaps one day, beyond it. She knew how far out of her element she was here, but she embraced it. Here, she could be anything, do anything, wear anything - she wasn't trapped by the limitations of being the daughter of a viscount and lined up for entrance into the Marriage Mart. She didn't have to let her hems down, wear a corset, fix up her hair. She could wear jeans and ankle boots and a loose, flowy blouse that felt more comfortable on her than anything she'd ever worn before.
She bounded out from the lift and across the lobby, spotting Enola on the way. She lifted a hand in greeting. "Miss Holmes," she said, "Enola." Eloise smiled. "It appears as though it's a beautiful day outside, doesn't it?"
“Hello, Eloise,” Enola greeted. It had taken her some time to get comfortable with calling people by their first names only. Though she still referred to the teachers at the school by something more formal. It seemed fairly hit or miss how any one wished to be referred to in Vallo, but learning the differences was part of the fun.
“I think we’ll have an ample amount of sunlight today for trying out a variety of food.” Which was good. A dreary day might make it a little less pleasant, especially if they had to trudge through snow or rain to get to places. Unlike many who appeared in Vallo, Enola had no means of magic. But at least she could still access the Waypoints and knew which ones to take to get to the different places she wanted to showcase.
“Do you want to start with something salty or savory?”
Eloise appreciated the fact that there were others here that were not only her age but also near enough by year that it wasn't so awkward or foreign to her.
"Hmn, well, perhaps we can begin with salty, move to savory, and will there be room for something sweet by chance? I ate the most delicious thick milk - a milkshake, I believe they might have called it? - the other night at the bookstore and it was divine. So perhaps we can work a snack like that into our day as well?"
“Oh yes! I experimented with the different flavors for the shakes at the store as well.” Hopefully it would be a permanent feature of the bookstore. Enola had a few more ideas she hadn’t been able to try out while there, not wanting to take up too much time at the station. “We can add something sweet in as well.”
She motioned toward the Waypoint. “Are you comfortable with those or should we take a cab?”
Eloise hesitated a little, looking warily at the Waypoint but also warily at the cars around them. "To be honest, I'm not truly comfortable with either of them. Horses and carriages are more in line with what I'm used to, however, in their absence, let's choose the quickest." She gave Enola a nervous smile and continued over to the Waypoint alongside Enola. "After all, I ought to get more comfortable sooner rather than later, if I'm to remain here."
Enola understood the hesitation. Everything was so different, so fantastical, and it was nice having the earth beneath one’s feet. There was a curiosity to it all as well that she couldn’t seem to turn away from. “They’re quite something once you’re used to them and know which ones to use to get where you want to go.” She stepped up and into it, confident that Eloise would follow and ended up on the sidewalk near the park that held the pizza cone stand.
There was another moment that Eloise let pass before she followed Enola into the Waypoint and out the other side. This kind of movement, this sort of transportation, was so fantastical to Eloise that she scarcely believed it was possible, even as she was using it. She regained her balance on the other side, near Enola, and brushed herself off. "Well, it's a bit jarring to be in one place at one moment and another at the next, isn't it?" She smiled.
“I’m not sure how long it takes for it not to be so. I’ve been here months and it still gets to me sometimes.” Enola thought the surprise of it might never completely wear off. “I thought we could start with pizza. Have you had it before? It’s rather delicious but this kind comes in a cone shape which seems to really bring out the flavors.” And was ridiculously greasy but apparently the way one knew they were getting quality pizza.
“This is one of the first places Richie and I went together.” It was one of her favorites.
"I've never had pizza before, no, and certainly nothing in a cone shape. I assume we're meant to eat it with our hands then?" Eloise wasn't so prim and proper that the idea set her aghast, but it was still something else to get used to. This idea of not having perfect manners at any table. Or even perhaps not eating at a table at all. "What flavors are there? Which one should I get?"
“You do, yes.” There would be napkins and one could use a fork if they needed but Richie had shown Enola how to just bite into it and hope for the best. It seemed to be the way to do a lot of the food truck ones. “I like the pepperoni one. There’s a cheese one and ham and others but I like the pepperoni one best.” It gave a nice flavorful punch.
Eloise nodded. "Well, then I will try a pepperoni one, since it comes highly recommended." They walked up to where they would order and Eloise let Enola take the lead. "How did you meet Richie? Is he from where you're from or from here? Is he courting you?"
“Oh no, we met here.” They had arrived at nearly the same time which seemed to bond people fairly quickly in Vallo. “But he’s become my guardian here. It’s not always required but we look after one another and try to make sure we don’t get up to too much trouble.” It helped that he was nothing like her brothers. “He’s become family.”
"That's nice to have. My eldest brother just arrived here and, to be completely honest, I'm not very happy about it. He can be such a bear about - well, about nearly everything. And I don't fancy the idea of him dictating my life or Daphne's here, as he had at home." Eloise sighed. "At least I'll have the backing of others here, should become unbearable."
Enola didn’t have to imagine how annoying older brothers could be. Even Sherlock who she’d looked up to most of her life had been unbearable at times, especially after their mother had disappeared. “Hopefully being in this place will help him become a little less overbearing and let him realize you’re just as capable of making your own decisions.”
She doubted that would ever happen if Mycroft showed up. Perhaps with Sherlock though. He seemed to admire what she’d accomplished even if he’d worried about her safety. “I have two brothers. One tried to ship me off to finishing school as soon as he was able. It didn’t work out well for anyone involved.”
Eloise rolled her eyes. "Sounds like Anthony. Hasn't tried to ship any of us off, though to be honest, attending school would be wonderful. I'm thinking about doing it here, though I'd be at such a disadvantage. For Anthony, it's just marrying us off. I've got three older brothers, plus Gregory, but he's only twelve so he doesn't really count at all."
"But you're right, Enola, perhaps it will be different here. I'm hoping for it to be."
“Finishing school is nothing like the schools in Vallo. Here we learn science and literature and so many other wonderful things like my mother was teaching me.” Finishing school was manners and needlework and stifling everything that made Enola who she was. “The Outlander school takes into account what we may or may not know because of the time difference and various chances to learn anything that we all have. The teachers are very helpful and everyone is pretty accepting.”
Eloise smiled. "I'm looking forward to learning. I've always been very jealous of my brothers, who were able to go off to Eton and then to Oxford, could study anything they chose. I had a library of books and a governess and - well, I suppose it's for the better that I'm here, and I can do whatever I choose to do, even with Anthony here." She shared a secret smile with Enola. "And, mostly, he can't do anything about it."
“It is rather nice to not need to worry about one’s brothers keeping you from doing things. My mother taught me everything I know. She never hired a governess for me. Even though my brother sent money for her to do so.” And while Enola missed her terribly, she knew there was little chance she’d see her if she was home either. She’d left and Enola had to make it on her own. “Shall we get in line though?” Because she knew it would only get longer the more they waited.
"I didn't always like every governess I had, but I was thankful for them. Otherwise, I would have only had books to rely on." She looked to where Enola was gesturing, to the queue that had gathered of people. "We're meant to wait here for our food?" she asked, looking around for tables or someone who appeared to be in charge or - well, servants, she supposed, though she had learned very quickly that this world wasn't like that at all. Eloise was still getting used to it.
“At some of the restaurants you’ll wait at a table and they’ll bring you your food, but outside I’ve found its mostly waiting in lines.” Enola preferred it that way. It was much easier to quickly head off afterward and get to where she wanted to be. She’d never been one who enjoyed sitting around and waiting unless she was observing something or staking someone out. “It’s a little more enjoyable when its not so cold outside.”
Eloise nodded and tucked that knowledge away along with everything else she had learned thus far. It was overwhelming, but if anyone could manage it, she could. When they had made it to the front of the line, Eloise asked for the pepperoni cone and something called a Coke to drink. She paid and waited for Enola too as well. Once they had stepped away and had their food in hand, she looked around. "Do we eat while walking then?" she asked curiously. She wasn't sure how to juggle both the drink and the food.
“There’s benches up ahead that we can sit on.” Enola knew it took a bit of practice to be able to manage walking and eating all at once. She directed them toward an empty bench once she had her items as well. After sitting down she showed how to simply start biting into the cone, using the napkins to help wipe away the inevitable grease that came with it, giving time for Eloise to try it out as well. The combination of flavors was still a delightful surprise.
Eloise went at the pizza cone with a little hesitation but after the first bite, her eyes widened and she touched her finger to the corner of her mouth in surprise. "Oh goodness, that's delicious," she said with surprise in her tone. She took another bite, trying not to let the sauce and grease drip too much but finding it almost impossible. "Thank you so much for introducing this to me, Enola."
“It’s my pleasure, Eloise.” No doubt Richie would be proud that she’d showed another the deliciousness that pizza cones encompassed. She’d have to tell him about it later on when she got home. It was good to see that Eloise seemed to enjoy it as much as she had her first time around. It made her a little more confident in her choices for where they would head to next and it seemed like a good beginning to a new friendship.